Over in Belfast, Carl Frampton re-established his world title credentials with a fine win against a very well-respected opponent, on Saturday night.
Frampton, now 31-years-of-age was matched against the former four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire, with the WBO interim featherweight belt up for grabs.
Frampton produced a master-class of boxing to get the verdict on an unanimous points decision with the three judges all awarding Frampton the fight by a score of 117 – 111.
The win was earned on the back of Frampton using his skills to keep Donaire at range whilst also landing numerous scoring punches thereby impressing the judges.
Donaire rarely troubled Frampton but the Irishman was hit by a couple of hard punches, one of which, in the eleventh round, saw the Irishman wobbled.
But Frampton recovered to take the verdict and, hopefully, set up a huge fight, at Windsor Park, against the WBO featherweight champion, the Mexican fighter Oscar Valdez.
However, there is speculation that Valdez could move up a weight which would see Frampton become the WBO champion without stepping into the ring.
If that were to happen, Frampton could chase a fight against the winner of the IBF title fight between Lee Selby and Josh Warrington, a fight scheduled to take place in May.
After the victory against Donaire, Frampton had this to say to the media,
“People say power may die towards the end but he hurt me in the 11th. But I’ve been hit worse.
“I had a simple game plan – use my jab from outside and went I got close, stay close. I started to bully him on the inside.
“I felt fresh. I looked at the ring cards and could see the rounds and in the 10th I felt great, not tired at all.”
“I’d love Valdez. Selby or Warrington – either of them. I’d want to fight Santa Cruz for a third time but that’s not going to happen.
“I want a world title and that’s it.”
It could be an interesting and exciting summer for Carl Frampton.
